Low Gas Prices Are Set to Spur Holiday Spending

“Falling gas prices have put consumers in a good mood.”

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), more than 4 in 5 Americans indicate falling gas prices impact their feelings about the nation’s economy and as a result they will spend more during the upcoming holiday season.  In fact, more than one in four consumers (26 percent) expect to increase their spending during the 2015 holiday season–a 7-point jump over the past month and the highest percentage this year.  Also the survey finds that women are more optimistic than men.  For retailers, this statistic is even more encouraging because women do more holiday shopping when compared to men.

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Teaching Suggestions

You may want to use the information in this blog post and the original article to

• Discuss how holiday spending impacts a family’s budget.
• Describe methods that consumers can use to save the money and budget for holiday spending.

Discussion Questions

1. Does the price of gasoline affect your spending on other items such as food, clothing, medicine, luxury items, and gifts?
2. How can you avoid spending “too much” during the holiday season?
3. What steps can you take to save the money needed for gifts and other holiday expenses?